The next morning, I was walking through the long corridors of the palace, with two guards following me. Of course, it was expected that guards would be assigned to watch me; there was no way to escape even if I tried.
I remembered the moment I woke up that morning. Oh, what a surprise! It had been a long time since I enjoyed warm water to wash my face and hands. Even more surprising, breakfast was served to me! I laughed inwardly in sarcasm: who would have thought I would have such luxury here?
I glanced at one of the guards, trying to hide my anxiety, wearing the mask of confidence I had grown accustomed to. I asked calmly, "Where is the library?" In truth, I wasn't used to talking to others; in my previous home, everyone ignored me as if I were invisible.
The guard replied, "I'll take you there."
I walked behind the guards until we stopped in front of the massive library gate. I turned to them and said in a calm yet firm tone, "I hope you will leave me alone. I don't think you want to be the reason for my failure to break His Majesty's curse, do you?" My gaze was steady and cold, which made them feel uneasy. They replied in unison, "We understand."
I entered the library and felt astonished by its size and splendor. I opened my eyes wide, inhaling the distinctive scent of books. How beautiful it was! I felt an overwhelming joy. Books had always been my escape and refuge from the harsh world.
As I admired the place, I noticed a woman standing in a corner of the library, looking me up and down. She said with disdain, "Who are you? Are you a servant or an intruder?"
I stood silent, scrutinizing her gaze that focused on my old, torn clothes. I didn't blame her for being cautious, but her looks irritated me. I replied calmly, "I'm an important guest here."
She regarded me with disbelief: "What?"
She continued to scrutinize me with suspicion, so I continued in a steady tone, "I'm here to try to break His Majesty's curse. I hope you will cooperate with me."
She looked somewhat flustered upon hearing my words. It was clear she had heard the news that spread yesterday, where the king issued a decree not to interfere or cause trouble for those who might try to save him, although many believed it to be impossible.
She said coldly, "You can roam around, but you are not allowed to go up to the second or third floors."
I looked at her seriously: "I need access to all the books; it's essential."
She answered indifferently, "You can't. You're not of royal blood, and you don't have a permit."
I tried to maintain my calm and asked, "How can I get this permit?"
She smiled sarcastically and said, "From His Majesty, of course."
I felt shocked for a moment (From the king? How am I going to do that?) I looked at her in silence as she smiled mockingly, thinking sharply to myself (She must think I'm just another deceiver).
The librarian thought (What a fool. She will end up being tortured like those before her). I said quietly, stepping back, "Forget it."
And inside, I was thinking: I will make do with what's available for now… at least for the time being.
I began to walk slowly through the vast library, looking at the shelves filled with old books. The smell of aged paper mixed with the air, giving me a moment of temporary safety, as if the books themselves were offering me refuge. My eyes roamed in search of books related to the kingdom's history and the secrets of magic. After about an hour, I had gathered several books, burdened with a mixture of hope and doubt. I placed them on the table with a strong thud, the sound echoing through the silent library. I sat in the wooden chair, my back straight and arms outstretched on the table, and with a serious and determined expression, I told myself, "I will not give up… I will search tirelessly until I find something that helps me."
I began reading a book on magic. I looked carefully at the yellowed pages, feeling the weight of the words between the lines: "It's good that I tied my powers to the full moon. There are many spells that rely on the energy of the full moon." The words rang in my head like a small key opening a door to hope.
But as I delved into reading, the image of the king appeared in my mind. His cold expressions and mocking smile returned to haunt me. I felt a sudden chill wash over me from within, and my heart began to race. What if I couldn't succeed?
These dark thoughts always assaulted me in moments of calm, as if they were waiting for me on the edge of every decision I made. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to regain control of myself. I took a deep breath, attempting to calm my racing heart: Calm down… I still have time. I cannot give up now.
I thought of what I hadn't yet seen, the things worth fighting for. I hadn't seen the forest yet, I hadn't seen the sea, and I hadn't attended any festivals. I felt a warmth creeping inside me. There was so much I hadn't experienced yet… I cannot die before I live these moments.
In a spacious office adorned with gold and marble, King Theodore sat behind his massive desk, listening to a man dressed in a black cloak like a shadow, bowing before him. The shadow spoke in a low voice:
"From what I gathered over the past two days, Lady Selenia is the illegitimate daughter of the count and a maid. She was taken in by the family when she was six years old, after her mother sent a letter to the count before her death to ensure her daughter wouldn't be left homeless."
Theodore remained silent, his expression unreadable as the shadow continued, although his voice had grown more cautious:
"I heard she was kept and not treated well, and she wasn't welcomed."
The king replied calmly, his features expressionless: "You talk too much."
The shadow shivered slightly at the coldness of his tone and the king's red eyes, devoid of any warm expression. Theodore continued in a low voice:
"I didn't send you to tell me this. I wanted to know about the credibility of her powers."
After moments of silence, the shadow stammered and apologized:
"I apologize, Your Majesty. I haven't found anything yet. She hasn't spoken to anyone and has kept to herself. Therefore, there is no confirmed information about her powers."
Theodore tapped his finger on the desk, his cold gaze revealing his dissatisfaction. The shadow felt the weight of the atmosphere, but cautiously added:
"However, I heard she has always been reading books about magic."
Theodore's eyes suddenly narrowed, recalling her confidence when she spoke to him. He had noticed a hint of fear, but she showed no hesitation.
He smiled cunningly and said in a cold tone:
"I can't wait to see her face filled with terror if she fails."
**********
Another day come marking 4 days of Selenia staying at the palace
In the morning, I sat in a chair in one of the palace gardens, looking around at the beautiful flowers that filled the space.
(I had always been accustomed to staying in my room in that cold, dark storeroom.)
I shifted my gaze back to the sky, my eyes calm.
(But here, I can wander as I please. Even though others watch me with suspicion, they don't dare harm me or treat me poorly, because I claim to possess the means to break the king's curse.)
A maid approached me and said, "Excuse me, my lady."
I looked at her with a small smile and replied softly, "Is there something you need?"
(This is the first time someone has spoken to me here.)
My eyes softened as the maid continued, "Would you like to have some tea in this beautiful garden?"
Before I could answer, I noticed a guard approaching us. He bowed slightly in respect and said, "My lady, we have been summoned to inspect the eastern wing. There's an urgent matter concerning the palace's security. We will return in a few moments."
I looked at him calmly and said, "That's fine. I'll be here. I don't think anything will happen to me in this garden."
The guard bowed again and left with the other guards.
(This is strange, but I won't complain. Perhaps this will give me some relief from their watchful eyes.)
I smiled at the maid and said, "Yes."
I watched her as she brought a tea cart and began pouring tea for me while saying, "I've heard that the lady has the ability to heal the king."
Upon hearing this, I replied calmly, "Ah, something like that."
She looked at Selenia sharply before smiling again, "Ah, I hope that's true. His Majesty is a fair and wonderful ruler."
I raised my gaze to the blue sky, trying to relax.
The maid moved her hand smoothly, taking in her distraction, she pulled something small from her sleeve and added it to the tea when selenia wasn't looking.
She smiled and said, "My lady, here you go."
I looked at the tea cup, lifting it to smell.
(It smells delightful.)
My gaze sharpened sensing a sweet so sweet smell , and my smile faded .
The maid, watching me with a smile, said, "Yes, we only bring the finest herbs here."
I stared at the tea quietly, observing its color, and began to lift it to my lips, replying softly, "Yes, its color and aroma are indeed intriguing."
(It's true; I had completely forgotten. This palace is not safe; it's more terrifying than that house.)
As I began to raise the cup to my mouth, I felt time stop. I tried to focus on the tea, but from the corner of my eye, I noticed the maid's gaze fixed on me, her unsettling smile directed my way.
I smiled gently, but my heart raced violently. I moved my hand slowly, deliberately letting the cup slip.
I had to look like I truly made a mistake. When the hot tea spilled onto my hand, it felt like fire consuming my skin, and I stifled a cry, "Ah!" But inside, I was screaming differently. The physical pain was merely a cover for the tension boiling inside me.
I saw the maid's eyes widen in surprise, as if she hadn't expected this. Her gaze filled with hidden dismay, which she quickly masked behind a concerned expression.
I clutched my burned hand, feigning embarrassment. "What a fool I am." But my eyes conveyed something else. I wanted to tell her that I knew.
But All I did was stare at the cup that lay shattered on the ground, trying to ignore the pain radiating from my hand.
When I raised my head, I saw a fleeting look of disappointment in her eyes, quickly replaced by a forced smile. "My lady, are you alright?" Her words were polite, but behind that gentle smile lay a deadly desire.
She grabbed a handkerchief to wipe my hand.
I said apologetically, looking at her as she wiped my hand with a sharp gaze, "Ah, even though you brought the tea just for me, I spilled it."
She smiled, bending to politely wipe the tea off my clothes. "Oh, there's no need for that. This tea can be made again, but what matters is your safety. It was hot."
I glared at her coldly from above, thinking sharply, (Safety? What nonsense.)
I said with a feigned shyness, "I've soiled my clothes, and I need to apply ointment on the burn to prevent it from getting worse. I'll return to my room."
She tried to speak, but i didn't give her a chance and walked away
As I walked away, my heart raced.
(She can't do anything because of the spill; she won't suspect I know about the poison
Because I burned myself on purpose. Now I need to get away from her as quickly as possible.)
Upon reaching the palace corridors, I grasped the wall with a trembling hand.
My eyes widened as my heart raced. (This was frightening. Thank goodness she didn't carry a dagger as different plan , it is good i get away safely even though I ended up with a few minor burns.)
I looked at my reddened hand and then at my clothes stained with tea, letting out a sigh.
I walked through the corridors, remembering the tea that was served to me and the maid who wore a mask of kindness.
My eyes sharpened (Of course, chamomile tea with its beautiful flowers would deceive anyone unfamiliar with herbs and plants. The tea served to me was darker than usual, and its scent was calming. However, I detected a very sweet aroma indicating the addition of another type of chamomile known to be poisonous, that type is fatal its symptoms appearing only three hours after consumption. It would cause the person to suffocate and die as if it were a natural death.)
I stopped, looking at my reddened hand, throbbing with pain. "Although I've never drunk tea like this before, reading books has helped me recognize it." (Just as I wear a mask of confidence, claiming I have a magical voice, there are others who can lie without hesitation and kill anyone with a smile.)